Read Rebecca's Story ^{(In Memoriam)}

Rebecca was handed to us over the fence by someone who could no longer care for her. We normally do not intake animals that way but we just so happened to have room for one more hen. After thirty days of quarantine, Rebecca joined our flock and instantly added sparkle, joy, and excitement to our California barnyard. The most notable thing about Rebecca was her voice. She talked incessantly, narrating her day, communicating with her friends, and making it clear to everyone just how much she loved her life. She sang her way through each day for the eight years that we were lucky enough to have her. She loved socializing with her friends, being held by guests, and eating. Her favorites were blueberries, corn, little flowers fallen from the trees, and blackberries. We didn't know how old Rebecca was when we met her, so we don't know how old she was when she passed away, but she was at least 12, and could have been much older. Rebecca was not in pain, and did not suffer, but simply stopped eating and prepared to transition. We held her in our arms, wrapped her in a blanket, took her outside to enjoy the sunshine one last time, sang songs to her, remembered all the wonderful things we did together, thanked her for all that she was and all that she did for us, and with the help of our veterinarian, walked her home and set her free. She was grateful. I can still hear her melodic voice in my mind and probably always will.